MORE than a quarter of businesses in Teesside and Darlington believe there is a skills shortage, a Learning and Skills Council (LSC) survey has revealed.

A national survey of 71,000 businesses - more than 800 of which are in the Tees Valley - was published earlier this week and showed the main cause of a lack of skills was a failure among businesses to develop staff. It also identified a lack of motivation and experience among staff.

Employers said recruits lacked basic skills including how to deal with customers, communication and problem-solving.

LSC Tees Valley is working on improving adult skills and improving the level of employees who are literate and numerate.

It is also working with other LSCs in the region to combat a lack of skilled workers in areas such as transport, chemicals and media.

Nine "sector skills" managers have been appointed in the North-East to improve education in those areas.

There are also six centres of vocational excellence in the Tees Valley to meet the needs of employers by building links between businesses and education, as well as providing training expertise.

Pam Eccles, executive director of the LSC Tees Valley, said: "The LSC recognises the major challenge we face in raising skills in the Tees Valley. If we are to achieve this, we must work with employers to create a passion and thirst for skills.

"There are many good employers in the Tees Valley who are making a difference to their business by investing in skills. We need more of this from employers across the Tees Valley.

"We will continue to drive up the demand for skills by continuing to work with employers, acting as a catalyst between business and education providers."